Cheese Stuffed Shells With Beef And Tomato Sauce

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (can substitute vegetable oil)
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 pinch salt and pepper
• 1 pinch hot pepper flakes
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (340 g) box jumbo pasta shells
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 (300 g) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 (475 g) container ricotta cheese
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Recipe

• 1 in shallow dutch oven, heat half of the oil over medium-high heat; cook beef, breaking up with spoon, for 5 minutes or until no longer pink. with slotted spoon, transfer to bowl. drain any fat from pan.
• 2 add remaining oil to pan; sauté onions and garlic for 5 minutes. add basil, oregano, hot pepper flakes, salt, pepper, tomatoes and tomato sauce. return beef to pan; bring to boil. reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, for 20 to 25 minutes or until thickened.
• 3 meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package directions until tender but firm. drain and rinse under cold water; drain well and place on damp tea towel.
• 4 filling: meanwhile, in bowl, combine spinach, ricotta, 1 cup parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, parsley, onions, eggs, basil, nutmeg, and pepper.
• 5 pour half of the beef and tomato sauce into 13- x 9-inch (3 l) glass baking dish. spoon heaping 1 tbsp (15 ml) filling into each pasta shell. arrange snugly, stuffed side up, in dish. spoon remaining sauce over top; sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan cheeses. cover with foil.
• 6 bake in 350°f (180°c) oven for 30 minutes. uncover and bake for 20 minutes or until heated through.